Topic: UK needs "early warning system" for solar flares

[Simon]

The Government isn't prepared to face the potential disruption from solar flares taking out power and communication networks, according to academics looking into the threat.

Electricity and communications networks would be at a significant risk from a major solar event, according to a recent symposium attended by international scientists, industry representatives and Government.

“No-one really knows what would happen, but we need to be prepared, and the industry would like some sort of early warning system,” said Jim Wild from the department of physics at Lancaster University.

Read more: http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/366649/uk-needs-early-warning-system-for-solar-flares

[Clive]

It's good to know that the government has woken up to the damage solar flares can cause. To be fair, NASA already has the STEREO early warning system in place and it's doing a very good job.  STEREO

[Rodders]

With the shift towards an electronically-dependant world becoming increasingly irreversible, I do sometimes wonder whether civilisation has a backup.

[GillE]

Will GPS be replaced by CPS - Carrier Pigeon Shuttle?

[sam]

It's good to know that the government has woken up to the damage solar flares can cause. To be fair, NASA already has the STEREO early warning system in place and it's doing a very good job.  STEREO

Not just NASA - those cameras were built in Brum.

Nice article on this: http://www.birminghamsciencecity.co.uk/news/seeing-the-sun-from-all-angles/

[sam]

as long as we turn of the satellites and bring them back up afterwards the effects on gps should be small, more worrying really is the power grid.

[Clive]

Not just NASA - those cameras were built in Brum.

That's even better news! 

[sam]

I remember walking past the lab seeing them being built in the "clean" room. Wasn't very clean when they moved it... lots of fun arsing around in a secure room.